Vaporizing, mixing, and feeding means



March 5, 1935. M. E. HATCHMAN VAPORIZING, MIXING, AND FEEDING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 8, 1951 Patented .Mar. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VAPORIZING, MIXING, AND FEEDIN MEANS Milton E. Hatchman, Chicago, Ill. Application June 8, 1931, Serial.No.542,825

15 Claims.

by the action of a blast of air, the mixing of such vapor with the desired amount of auxiliary air,

and the feeding of such mixture to the intake a point between the carburetor and the manifold. it is the object of my invention to provide, for a device of the type described, an improved form and arrangement of vaporizer by which the water or other liquid being acted upon may be divided into an exceedingly fine spray. It is another object of my invention to provide an improved form and arrangement of parts for mixing such finely divided vapor most effectively with a comparatively large body of air which may serve as a source of supply of controlled amounts fed there! from. It isone of my objects to provide an improved arrangement of this type comprising means forkeeping such body of air constantly supplied with vapor and for keeping the mixture of such air and vapor comparatively uniform.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide vaporizing and mixing means comprising a chamber within which a mixture of air and vapor may be produced and maintained, together with means for conducting a stream of air through such chamber whereby such stream of air shall carry a supply of the vapor from the chamber. To this end, it is one of the objects of my invention to provide an arrangement by which the blast of air by which the vaporization is effected is caused to impinge upon a stream of air passing in a cross direction or in a directly opposite direction from that of the blast of air whereby a proportion of the moisture carried by the blast of air is transferred to the stream of air so. as

to be carried along therewith. It is one of my.

objects to provide an arrangement of this type in which the blast of air by which the vaporization is efiected shall be driven with the vapor in one direction through a passageway along which the mixture of air and vapor isdrawn in the opposite direction for the feed from the device.

It is another object of my invention to provide improved means for controlling the admission of auxiliary air, and to provide preferably that the blast of air by which the vaporization is effected shall be kept substantially uniform for all speeds of the engine.

It is still another object of my invention to imof an internal combustion enginepreferably at prove devices of this typein sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects are. illustrated in the accompanying drawings and are. hereinafter specificallydescribed. That which I believe to be new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings,- i

Fig. 1 is a side viewof the preferred embodi ment of my invention in position upon an internal combustion engine only a fragmentary portion of which is shown,'other parts of the ap paratus being broken away for clearness of illuse tration; H

Fig. 2'is a view of the parts at the left of Fig. 1 asseen from the left in said figure; I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail, being a section tak-. en-at line 33 of Fig. 2; and 1 f Fig. 4 is a central vertical section taken on line 44 of Fig. 1 but upon an enlarged scale.

Referring to the several figures of the drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicated. by the same reference characters, 10 indicates a fragmentary portion of an internal combustion, engine of the'ordinary type comprising the usual parts" including an intake manifold connected with a carburetor, and fuel control mechanism of any approved type. In the construction shown my improved vaporizing, mixing and feeding means is mounted upon the engine 10 through the medium of a rigid bracket 11 secured in any suitable manner upon the engine 10 so as to cause my improved mechanism to be supported from the engine and to have the same movement with res'pect tothe' supporting frame as that of the engme.

Upon the bracket 11, is mounted a cap 12 which serves as the top closure member for a receptacle 13 which is connected by means of screw threads withithe capso as to be supported thereby, a

gasket 14 being preferably interposed for causing, a tight fit between the parts. In the. construction shown, the receptacle 13 is made of glass, but it will be understood that it might be made of other material if desired. In the construction shown, the cap 12 is secured in position upon the. bracket 11 by means of a plate 15 formed integrally with the cap and secured to the bracket bymeans of bolts 16. I

As is best shown in Fig. 4, the cap 12 is provided with a sleeve 17 therein with its lower end opening into the body of the receptacle 13 which is illustrated in the drawings as beingprovided with a supply of water at some little distance be low the sleeve, the receptacle serving thus as a;

ably restricted portion 22.

i hear the upper end of the sleeve.

closure means for the lower end of the sleeve. The upper end of the sleeve 1'7 opens into a recess 18 formed in the upper face of the cap 12 within a lug 19 provided for the purpose. The upper end of the recess 18 is closed by a plug 20 which in the construction shown has a pressed fit in the recess. The plug 20 is provided with a substantially central opening 21 theretlirough which terminates in a 'consider- The upper end of the opening 21 is effectively closed by a nozzle or jet member 23 which in turn has a central opening 24 therethrough which terminates at its lower end in a restricted portion25 which is com I paratively very much smaller than the opening 22. In the arrangement shown, the lower end of the opening 25 is spaced above the upper end of the restricted opening portion 22, being separated therefrom by a distance corresponding substantiallyto the diameter of the opening 25. In the arrangement shown, the lower end portion of the opening 21 above the restricted portion 22 is substantially conical, and the lower end of the nozzle member 23 in the construction shown is conical corresponding substantially to the shape of the adjacent wall portion of the opening 21. At one side, thenozzle member 23 is cut away slightly so as to provide a limited amount of clearance between the face of said nozzle member and the wall of the opening 21, as indicated at 26 in Fig. 4.

Theplug 20 is provided with a transverse port 2'7 thereinppening at its inner end to the side face of the nozzle member 23, the port 2'? communicating with a suction pipe or tube 28 secured in the plug 20 and extending-downwardly into the water within the receptacle 13, the pipe 28 extending preferably to a point closely adjacent to the bottom of the receptacle. An outlet port 29 is provided leading from the recess 18, being connected atits outer end with a line of piping 30 which leads to the intake manifold of the engine 10 at a point between the carburetor and the cylinder or cylinders of the engine. As is clearly shown in Fig. 4, theport 29 in the construction illustrated extends outwardly andup- Wardly from the recess 18, having its lower end spaced only a short distance from the lower end of the restricted opening portion 22 at the upper end of the sleeve 17. 7

Means is provided for admitting air to the cap 12 independently of the opening 25 through the nozzle member 23, such means comprising a line of piping 31 leading into the cap directly at its upper end so as to open opposite the sleeve 17 The outer end of the pipe 31is in communication with a recess 32 formed in the inner face of a plate 33, such recess 32 being closed at the face of the plate 33 by a second plate 34 rotatably mounted with reas'there shown, such slit 35 is brought into communication with the recess 32 so as to admit air to the line of piping 31. In the arrangement shown, the plates 33 and 34 are mounted in position upon the cap 12 by means of a machine screw 36 which takes into a lug 37 formed upon the cap 12, the arrangement being such that the plate 34 is rotatable upon the screw 36 with respect to the plate 33. A spacing sleeve 38 extending through a central opening in the plate 34 serves to enable the screw 36 to clamp the plate 33 rigidly in position, the plate 34 being held yieldingly in position upon the face of the plate 33 by means of a spring 39 interposed between the head of the screw and the outer face of the plate 34. The arrangement is such-that the size of the opening between the slit 35 and the recess 32 is controlled by the movement of plate 34, the size of opening being increased by movement of the plate 34 in counterclockwise direction in said Fig. 2.

The means provided for controlling the positionof the plate 34 with respect to the plate 33 comprises a link 45 pivotally connected with the lower end of an arm 41 mounted upon the plate 34, the link 40 being adapted to connect the arm provided in the arm 41 and is adjustable therein adapted to limit the moveinent'cf the plate 34 in clockwise direction in said Fig. 2 by engagement with atransversely extending screw 43 carried by a lug 44'depending from the plate 33.

The cap 12 is provided at one side with a filling opening of any approved type normally closed by a plug 45 held in position by a spring bail 46.

With the parts connected up as indicated by the drawings and as above described, when the crank of the engine 10 is turned over, a suction effect is produced serving normally to draw a stream of air upwardly and outwardly through the outlet port 29. With the plate 34 in the position as indicated in Fig. 2 so as to close the outer end of the line of piping 31, the full force of such suction is applied for producing a downward how of air or air and water through the restricted opening 22 in the plug 20. Inasmuch as the air admitted to the recess 18 through the opening 22 is forced to enter through the still smaller opening 25, it will be appreciated that such air passes through the opening 22 and into the recess 18 and thence into the sleeve 17 in the form of a blast. The arrangement of the parts as shown in Fig. 4 and the proportions of openings are such that upon a movement of one of the pistons of the engine 13 the blast of air downwardly through the opening 22 is of sun ci'ent force for causing a stream of water to rise through the pipe 28, a limited amount of such water being permitted to pass downwardly at 26 into the opening 21 into the control of the blast of air by which the water is vaporized in accordance :with well-known principles. The force of the blast is such that the air and vapor passing downwardly through the opening 22 are to spread out within the sleeve 17 so as substantially to fill the sleeve 17. The production of vapor is such that in the course or a few strokes of the pistons or the engine the cap 12 and the upper end portion of the receptacle 13 above the water therein are filled with a cloud of very fine vapor, the sleeve I'Tbeing kept constantly filled with a supply of such vapor. As will be readily understood, the stream of air being drawn out through the outlet port 29 and the line of piping 30 must be supplied under the stated circumstances from the-body of air in the cap 12 and the receptacle 13, such stream of air being drawn upwardly through the sleeve 17 in opposition to and across the blast of air being forced downwardly through the sleeve. Under such circumstances, it will be appreciated that the stream of air escaping through the line of piping 30 is provided with an ample supply of moisture, such moisture comprising the most minute particles of the water vapor whose passage, upwardly with the air-would be the least opposed by the blast of air downwardly through the sleeve. The arrangement is such that the movement of water upwardly through the pipe 28 under the influence of the blast of air is continued throughout the operation of the engine. I

The parts as just described, comprising the nozzle member 23 and its cooperatingparts by which the water fed upwardly through the pipe 28 is vaporized, are preferably arrangedso as normally to provide the amount of air and moisture required through the line of piping 30 for efficient results at the idling speed of the engine.

When an increased amount of fuel is fed to the engine so as to cause it to operate ata higher speed, it is desirable that the amount of moisture fed through the pipe 30 be correspondingly increased. The amount of moisture vaporized, however, need not necessarily be increased, since there is normally maintained in the cap and receptacle an excessive amount of ,water vapor over and above that necessary foreiiicient use in the engine at low speeds. Such increased feeding of moisture to the engine at the higher speeds without an increase in the amount of Va por produced is brought about by the opening of the air inlet valve comprising the plates 33 and 34, which makes an increased supply of air avail-,

able for being drawn out of the receptaclebut without any increase in the amount of air en tering through the nozzle or jet23. This increased stream of air by reason of the inlet valve for the pipe 31 being opened is supplied with moisture upon its passage through the receptacle 13' and through the sleeve 1'7 the same as is the stream of air when the valve is closed, except that the amount of moisture in proportion to the amount of air is slightly increased at the higher speeds of the engine by reason of the fact that such stream of air at the higher engine speeds moves at a greater velocity and has accordingly an increased water carrying capacity. As is above explained, the plate 34 of the air inlet valve is connected with the fuel feed lever of the engine in such relation that as the amount of fuel fed to the engine is increased the plate 34 is rotated in counter-clockwise direction in Fig. 2 about the sleeve 38 and the screw 36 so as to admit air through the slit 35, such air being admitted in increasing amounts as the plate 34 is rotated farther in counter-clockwise direction in said Fig. 2. This increase in the feed of air and moisture through. the suction pipe 30 as the speed of the engine increases takes place on the increased opening of the inlet valve comprising the plates 33 and 34 in spite of the fact that the strength of the suctionthrough said pipe 30 is then decreased.

I have found in practice in connection with my improved arrangement that the spray being fed to the engine through the pipe 30 is exceedingly fine and is thoroughly mixed through all parts of such stream of air. Under such circumstances, the minute particles of moisture, when subjected to the intense heat at the time-of the explosion in the cylinder, are reduced to steam, such steam being effective in the cylinder for maintaining the pressure in the cylinder after a partial abatement of the maximum pressure produced'by the explosion.

By my improved arrangement, the relative amounts of moisture in the air as fed to the intake manifold of the engine remain substantially the same at all speeds of the engine, being slightly greater at the higher speeds, as above set forth. While I prefer to effect the vaporization of the water, without the use of heat and to feed the air and vapor cold to the manifold, my invention is not limited to such use.

Bythe provision'of my improved arrangement by which an auxiliary supply of air is provided for the mixing chamber independently of the air admitted through the jet or nozzle member, in whicharrangement such auxiliary air is provided with anample supply of moisture in finely divided state as above described, I am enabled to operate an engine effectively at all speeds without the I use of an excessive amount of water in the re-v ceptacle 13. I have found in practice that when the joints in the feed lines 30 and 31 are properly tightened, and when the parts have the proper relative sizes and positions as illustrated in the,

drawings and as above described, I am able to accomplish very satisfactory results whereby an} automobile may :be operated many miles in accordance with my invention without the necessity for replenishing the supply of water in the receptacle 13. I have found that by mounting the mechanism as a Whole directly upon the engine 'my apparatus will operate successfully without the parts working loose, it being unnecessary to maintain constant inspection of the couplings for accomplishing the desired results.

While my improved apparatus is, particularly designed for use in connection with vaporizing,

mixing and feeding means for feeding a supply of moisture to the stream of air being admitted to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, my invention is not necessarily limited to such use. My invention comprises as one of its parts a greatly improved vaporizing mechanism which may be used in any desired capacity for feeding a mixture of gas and vaporized fluid in any capacity as desired.

While I prefer to employ the form of mechanism as shown in my drawings and as above described, it will be understood that my invention is not limited thereto except so far as theclaims may be so limited by the prior art, it being understood that changes might well be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A mechanism of thetype described, com

prising in combination a substantially closed mixing chamber having a restricted opening thereinto, means for withdrawing from the mixing chamber a stream of air of very large size compared with the size of'said opening so as to induce a blast of air of comparatively much higher velocity than said stream of air through said opening into and across said chamber and so located with respect to the chamber that said blast of airis forced through all portions of said stream for thorough mixture therewith, and means for feeding moisture to said incoming blast so as to be vaporized thereby and so as to be at least partially to close the other end of said,

sleeve, and means for feeding water to said blast of air so as to be vaporized thereby in said sleeve.

3. A mechanism of the type described, comprising in combination a mixing chamber in the form of an elongatedsleeve,,closure meanssubstantially closing one end of said sleeve but having a restricted opening therethro-ugh for the admission of a blast of air, means for taking a stream of air from said sleeve at a point adjacent to said restricted opening, a receptacle'secured to said sleeve serving in effect to close the end of the sleeve, and a suction tube extending from the bottom portion of the receptacle into communication with the opening through said closure means whereby a blast of air through said opening into the sleeve serves to draw water from the receptacle for vaporization bythe blast of air so as to be mixed with the stream of air being taken from the sleeve.

4. A mechanism of the type described, comprising in combination a chamber, means for producing a stream of air through said chamber, and means for causing a stream of air and fine water spray to pass through said first named stream in direct opposition thereto at a comparatively much higher velocity for thorough mixture of the moisture with the air. 7

5. In a mechanism of the type described, the combination of a receptacle adapted to hold water, a cap closing the upper end of the recep tacle, a sleeve extending downwardly inside of the cap opening at its lower end into the receptacle and at its upper end intoa-recess in the upper face of the cap, a plug closing the upper end of said recess and having a vertical opening therethrough of restricted size at its lower end as compared'with the remainder of said opening, a nozzle member secured in said opening in the plug and terminating a short distance above the restricted portion of said opening, said nozzle member being provided with a verticalopening therethrough of considerably smaller size than the size of the restricted portion of the opening in the plug and in registry with said restricted opening portion, said plug being provided with a transverse port opening at one side face of said nozzle member, means for drawing a stream of air from said recess through a port leading therefrom serving to cause a blast of air to pass downwardly through the vertical opening in said nozzle member, and a pipe communicating at its upper end with the transverse port in said plug and extending downwardly toward the bottom of said receptacle, the fit of said nozzle member in the vertical opening of said plug being'such as to permit water rising through said pipe to pass downwardly along the nozzle member to the restricted portion of the opening in the plug for vaporization by the blast of air passing downwardly through the vertical opening in said nozzle member, said blast of air from said nozzle member being adapted to direct water vapor into and through the stream of air passing upwardly through said sleeve below said recess.

6. In a mechanism of the typedescribed, the combination of a receptacle adapted to hold water, a cap closing the upper end of the receptacle, a sleeve extending downwardly inside of the cap opening at its lower end into the receptacl and at its upper end into a recess in the upper face of the cap, a plug closing the upper end of said recess and having a vertical opening therethrough of restricted size at its lower end as compared with the remainder of said opening, a nozzle member secured in said opening in the plug'and terprising minating a short distance above'the restricted portion of said opening, said nozzle member being provided with a vertical opening therethrough of considerably smaller size than the size of the restricted portion of the opening in the plug and in registry with said restricted opening portion, said plug being provided with a transverse port opening at one side face of said nozzle member, said cap being provided at one side with an outlet port extending diagonally upwardly and outwardly frcmisaid recess, means connected with said outlet port for drawing a stream of air from said recess serving to cause a blast of air to pass downwardly through'the vertical opening in said nozzle member, and a pipe communicating at its upper end with the transverse port in said plug and extending downwardly toward the bottom of said receptacle, the fit of said nozzle member in the vertical opening of said, plug being such as to permit water rising through said pipe to pass downwardly along the nozzle member to the restricted portion of th opening in the plug for vaporization by the blast of air passing downwardly through the vertical opening in said nozzlemember, said blast. of air from said nozzle member being adapted to direct water vapor into and through the stream of air passing upwardly through said sleeve below said recess.

'7. A mechanism of the type described, comprising in combination a comparatively long narrow mixing chamber, means for withdrawing air from said'ohamber at one end serving to cause a stream of air to move longitudinally of the chambeig'and means comprising a jet device opening into said chamber at said end portion thereof rendered effective by the withdrawal or" air from the chamber in one direction for causing another stream of air and moisture to pass longitudinally of said chamber in the opposite direction.

8. A mechanism of the type described, comprising in combination a receptacle having a comparatively long outlet passageway, means for withdrawing air from said receptacle serving to cause a stream of air to move longitudinally of said passageway, means comprising a jet device opening into said passageway rendered effective by the removal of air from the receptacle through said passageway for causing another stream of air and moisture to pass longitudinally of said passageway in the opposite direction, and valve means for admitting controlled amounts of air to said receptacle independently of said jet device in position to pass outwardly through said passageway.

9. A mechanism of the type described, comin combination a receptacle, suction means for withdrawing a stream of air from said receptacle, means rendered effective by the withdrawal of said air for causing a blast of air and moisture into and through said stream of air, and means for admitting air to said receptacle independently of the moistening means at such a point that such additional air is forced to pass into intimate engagement with said blast of air and moisture for escape from the receptacle as a part ofsaid stream of air.

10. A mechanism of the type described, comprisingin combination a receptacle, suction means for withdrawing a stream of air from said receptacle, means rendered effective by the withdrawal of said air for causing a blast of air and moisture into and through said stream of air, means comto pass into intimate engagement with said blast of air and moisture for escape from the receptacle as a part of said stream of air, and means effective as the volume of air drawn out through said suction means increases for increasing the efiective opening through said valve.

11. A mechanism of the type described, comprising in combination a receptacle, suction means for withdrawing a stream of air from said receptacle, means rendered eifective by the withdrawal of said air for causinga blast of air and moisture into and through said stream of air, means for admitting air to said receptacle independently of the moistening means at such a point that such additional air is forced to pass into intimate engagement with said blast of air and moisture for escape from the receptacle as a part of said stream of air and comprising a plate having a recess in its face, a second plate revolubly mounted on said first named plate and having an opening therein adapted upon rotation of saidsecond plate tobe brought gradually into communication with the recess in said first named plate for admitting varying amounts of air to said recess, and means effective as the volume of air drawn out through said suction means increases for increasing the effective opening through said air admitting means.

12. In a device of the type described, the combination of an elongated mixing chamber, means eiiectively closing one end of .saidrchamber but providing a large outlet opening and a comparatively much smaller inlet opening in the form of a jet both communicating with the chamber at said closed end, and means serving as an effective closure for the opposite end of said chamber whereby a suction upon said outlet opening causes a blast of air to enter the chamber through said jet opening and normally to spread throughout the chamber with substantial penetrating force therein and causes a stream of. air to flow in the opposite direction'through said chamber and through said blast of air in opposition thereto and outwardly through said outle opening.

13. In a device of the'type described, the combination of an elongated mixing chamber, means effectively closing one end of said chamber but providing a large outlet opening and a comparatively much smaller inlet opening in the form of a jet both communicating with the chamber at said closed end, means serving as an efiective closure for the opposite end of said chamber whereby a suction upon said outlet opening causes a blast of air to enter the chamber through said jet opening and normally to spread throughout the chamber with substantial penetrating force therein and causes a stream of air to flow in the opposite direction through said chamber and through said blast of air in opposition thereto and outwardly through said outlet opening, and means for feedinga liquid to said blast of air at said jet device for vaporization thereby so as to fill said chamber with a cloud of vapor to be carried out by the outwardly flowing stream of air.

14. In a device of the type described, the combination of an elongated mixing chamber, means effectively closing one end of said chamber but providing a large outlet opening and a comparatively much smaller inlet opening in the form of a jet both communicating with the chamber at said closed end, means serving as an effective closure for the opposite end of said chamber whereby a suction upon said outlet opening causes a blast of air to enter the chamber through said jet opening and normally to spread throughout the chamber with substantial penetrating force therein and causes a stream of air to flow in the opposite direction through said chamber and through said blast of air in opposition thereto and outwardly through said outlet opening, means for feeding a liquid to said blast of airat such jet device for vaporization thereby so as to fill said chamber with a cloud of vapor to be, carried out by the outwardly flowing stream of air, means comprisin a valve for admitting air to said mixing chamber independently of 'said jet opening at in the form of a jet with both of said openings communicating with the chamber at said closed end thereof, and means for producing a flow of air through said chamber in the direction toward said closure means and out through said outlet and for simultaneously producing a blast of air and moisture at comparatively much higher speed through said chamber in the opposite direction so as to penetrate and mix with the out-flowing stream of air in said chamber.

MILTON E. HATCHMAN. 

